Cybersecurity Workforce Report
12 Markets with High Demand for Top Talent
By Randstad Technologies
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
Executive Summary
Randstad Technologies, a leading technology talent and solutions provider in the U.S., issued its Cybersecurity Workforce
Report. The report reveals strong demand for cybersecurity talent in 12 key markets nationwide. Demand in these
markets was based on the following criteria: employers competing for talent and the number of open job listings.
Minneapolis
Seattle
Chicago
Boston
New York City
San Francisco
Washington D.C.
Los Angeles
Atlanta
Pheonix
Austin
Dallas
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
1
Executive Summary
Cybersecurity talent is highly sought after not only in
these markets but also nationwide. Between June 2014
and June 2016, demand surged 35 percent year-over-year.
The industry agrees. According to the 15th Annual State
of the CIO Survey, 46 percent of IT executives cite security
management as a focus for the upcoming year, up from 31
percent in 2015, suggesting that security ranks as the top
technology initiative driving IT investment.
2015
2016
IT security management is a growing focus for executives
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
2
Atlanta
248
Direct employers
currently competing
652
91%
Ninety-one percent of job openings require
a bachelor’s degree at minimum.
53%
Among potential candidates in the workforce
that are women, 53 percent identify with
an ethnicity other than Caucasian (AfricanAmerican, Asian, Hispanic or “other”).
Open jobs posted
by direct employers
47
Average days for a
position to be filled
$129,450
Median salary for
cybersecurity expertise
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
3
Austin
98
Among markets analyzed, Austin has one of
the lowest median salaries ($106,800) for its
cybersecurity workforce, offering employers
more value for top talent in a tech hotbed
that includes Dell, IBM, Oracle and many more.
Direct employers
currently competing
270
Open jobs posted by
direct employers
45
Average days for a
position to be filled
$106,800
Median salary for
cybersecurity expertise
67%
Sixty-seven percent of potential candidates in
the Austin market have earned a bachelor’s,
master’s or doctorate degree applicable to
the IT security field.
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
4
Boston
260
Direct employers
currently competing
604
Open jobs posted by
direct employers
Direct employers seeking cybersecurity or
security-related talent in Boston include
Deloitte, Tufts University, Oracle, Amazon,
The Mitre Corporation, among others.
52
Average days for a
position to be filled
$131,050
Only 21 percent of potential of potential
security IT candidates in Boston are women.
Median salary for
cybersecurity expertise
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
5
Chicago
242
Direct employers
currently competing
627
14%
Open jobs posted by
direct employers
Of potential candidates in the Chicago workforce,
14 percent have attained at least a master’s
degree.
49
Average days for a
position to be filled
$126,700
96%
Of the 627 job openings, 96 percent require at
least a bachelor’s degree.
Median salary for
cybersecurity expertise
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
6
Dallas
243
Direct employers
currently competing
The salary range for cybersecurity and security-related
talent in Dallas is $93,000-145,000 annually.
776
Open jobs posted by
direct employers
46
Average days for a
position to be filled
$119,100
Median salary for
cybersecurity expertise
20%
For organizations hoping to increase diversity in the
workplace, 20 percent of potential candidates in
the Dallas workforce are non-Caucasian.
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
7
Los Angeles
238
Direct employers
currently competing
641
Open jobs posted by
direct employers
49
31%
Thirty-one percent of potential candidates
based in Los Angeles are women, the highest
percentage among all the markets analyzed.
Average days for a
position to be filled
$123,800
Median salary for
cybersecurity expertise
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
8
Minneapolis
136
Direct employers
currently competing
444
Open jobs posted by
direct employers
45
Average days for a
position to be filled
Among markets analyzed, Minneapolis has
the lowest median salary ($102,200) for its
cybersecurity workforce, offering employers
more value for top talent in a corporate hub
that includes Target Corporation, Wells Fargo,
UnitedHealth Group and many more.
$102,200
Median salary for
cybersecurity expertise
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
9
New York City
453
Direct employers
currently competing
The salary range for cybersecurity and securityrelated talent in the New York City metro area,
including northern New Jersey and Long Island,
is $113,000-170,000 annually.
1,500
Open jobs posted by
direct employers
47
Average days for a
position to be filled
$141,100
98%
The vast majority (98 percent) of current job
openings require candidates to have at
least a bachelor’s degree.
Median salary for
cybersecurity expertise
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
10
Phoenix
127
Direct employers
currently competing
374
Open jobs posted by
direct employers
43
Average days for a
position to be filled
65%
Sixty-five percent of potential
candidates have earned at least
a bachelor’s degree.
$109,050
Median salary for
cybersecurity expertise
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
11
San Francisco
277
Direct employers
currently competing
801
Open jobs posted by
direct employers
One-third of all potential candidates are
Asian; the vast demographic differences
in the talent pool could help organizations
increase diversity in the workplace.
49
Average days for a
position to be filled
More than 20 percent of potential candidates
have at least a master’s degree.
$145,850
Median salary for
cybersecurity expertise
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
12
Seattle
148
Direct employers
currently competing
556
Open jobs posted by
direct employers
48
Average days for a
position to be filled
Direct employers seeking cybersecurity or
security-related talent in Seattle include
Amazon, Oracle, Microsoft, T-Mobile
and Nordstrom, among others.
$121,300
Median salary for
cybersecurity expertise
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
13
Washington, D.C.
743
Direct employers
currently competing
3,524
Open jobs posted by
direct employers
49
Average days for a
position to be filled
Washington, D.C. has the highest median
market salary among the 12 markets
analyzed. This is a booming market for IT
security and cybersecurity jobs.
$152,800
Median salary for
cybersecurity expertise
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
14
Methodology and Sources
Randstad Technologies’ report of 12 markets with high demand for cybersecurity talent
is derived from an analysis of proprietary data from Randstad Technologies and industry
partner WANTED Analytics. Randstad Technologies maintains regional offices in Atlanta,
Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City, Phoenix,
San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere around the country. Randstad
Technologies also evaluated publicly available surveys and reports on the IT job market in
the U.S., including CIO’s 15th annual State of the CIO survey.
Data supplied by WANTED Analytics
15